The "Heart" of every Pickup...the Magnet!
The key to Vintage sound is in our opinion to 70% only the magnet...
Our magnets are custommade for Crazyparts to Vintage specs...
Why made in Europe?...the simple fact is, overseas magnet makers do not have the records or generational knowledge to match the capabilities of our magnet maker. (Founded more then 50 years ago). The result is overseas Alnico charges different and sounds different compare to EU or US made Alnico.
The most common magnet Type in the 50's and 60s was the Alnico 2 and Alnico 5 ...we analysed these two types of old magnets to build a magnet which comes clost to the old ones. Important detail concerning the tone of vintage P.A.F. pickup magnets is the metal formulation and heat treating processes of our manufacture. An interesting detail of Alnico magnets in vintage P.A.F. pickups is they are very often lower charged than many of the modern Alnico magnets made overseas. There are several reasons for the difference.
The main reason is Gibson used to charge magnets in a block. Alnico is cheaper to purchase uncharged. As a cost savings measure purchased uncharged magnets and .charged several magnets in a small block in a homemade charge. The practice of charging Alnico in a block results in Alnico magnets that are not fully charged or fully "saturated" with a charge. In order for Alnico to be most stable it should be fully saturated. As a result of Gibson's old charging method magnets received less charge from the get go and depending upon what these magnets are exposed to over time, they are more prone to losing charge with some grades being more prone than others to loss of charge.
We offer the most common types ALN Magnets
To make sure all our magnets within a type sounds the same and have same strenght, all magnets charge one by one.
Different Magnet Types and Sound Info
Alnico 2
- Warmer sounding with less magnetic pull to allow the strings to vibrate more freely. A good choice for warming up a bright or harsh sounding amp and guitar.
Overall the Alnico 2 is warm, with clear mids, spongier bass, and a softer attack. Many players use the Alnico 2's to better achieve the vintage tone heard in many pickups from the 50's era.
Alnico 3
- Considered to be brighter than Alnico 2 with the least magnetic pull to allow the strings to vibrate more freely. A good choice for clean tones and lots of articulation.
Overall the Alnico 3 is bright, with clear mids, warm bass, and a softer attack.
Alnico 4
-This magnet is best described to have the characteristics of both Alnico 2 and Alnico 5. Kind of a happy medium.
Alnico 5
-Bright sounding with more focus and enhanced dynamics. A good choice for adding a brighter punch to a warm or dull sounding amp or guitar.
Alnico 5 - Short
-Providing more focus in the upper-mids and brighter highs. The bottom-end is deep but very controlled and coupled with the extra cut in the high-end. Great for organic, clean and driven tones.
Overall the Alnico 5 is bright and punchy, with glassy highs, tight bass, and more attack. Alnico 5 magnets are the most commonly used magnets in guitar pickups today.
Sound of Long Magnet compare to Short: Long magnets are slightly more focused compare to Shorter type magnets they providing more focus in the upper-mids and brighter highs. The bottom-end is deep but very controlled and coupled with the extra cut in the high-end. Great for organic, clean and driven tones, with the charakteristic of the ALN type. Gibson used Short Magnets from 1961 onwards incl. the Famous T-Top Pickups. Overall the natural sound and voicing of the Guitar will be the same!